CAN you believe it? I'm at a party surrounded by women and the conversation is all about. . . football.

That's probably because there's nothing else on TV, but a shock to the system nonetheless as my wife is among those enthusing about England's victory against the Swiss and helpfully informing others that the next game against Croatia is on Monday. In fact the interest has been going on all week. Did I really hear my sportshating wife say: "Do you mind if I watch Cash In The Attic (BBC1, Monday) because it fits in between the games today?" It was the unpromising delights of Sweden v Bulgaria on ITV1 after all.

The incredibly camp Alistair Appleton duly presented his daytime TV series (transplanted to early evening to fill a gap in the schedules) and began poking about in an old chap's untidy areas looking for nick-nacks to sell at auction.

The fairly modest target was £600 for a washing machine which was an eye-opener compared to the millions being spent in Portugal on coverage of young men chasing around after what appears to be a silver beachball - and damn hard to spot when one half of the pitch is in shade.

There just happened to be an old British Railways sign for Redhill lying around which raised the total in one go. There was enough left over to finance a return trip to the Algarve to watch our boys in action as I believe there might be one or two vacancies and spare tickets at the moment.

As Cash In The Attic's subject could easily have bought a washing machine for himself, there was still time to catch Real Story With Fiona Bruce (BBC1) where the newspresenter allowed the fabulously wealthy fashion model Sophie Anderton to whinge on about ruining her career with a £3m coke habit, and it wasn't the fizzy black variety.

The news that the former Gossard bra girl is now dating disgraced ex-Blue Peter presenter John Leslie rather took the edge off claims that she was rebuilding her life with sympathetic nightclub owner Mark Alexiou.

Then again, this programme was originally destined for a May 24, showing and a lot can happen with celebrity romance in three weeks.

Well may Nights From Hell (ITV1, Thursday) plug the gaps before Fantasy Football: Euro 2004 where Frank Skinner and David Baddiel seem to have been given a licence to be as revolting as they like after England games.

Sunday's opener involved Skinner as Sven and Baddiel as Nancy in what can only be described as a Leicester City moment. There are going to be complaints, Nancy doesn't have a beard for a start.

"Why aren't you kicking up a fuss about the football?" I asked my wife.

"I'm coping at the moment, but there is Wimbledon as well next week and I'm not a saint, " she replied. That was, incidentally, after she'd turned off England v Switzerland with five minutes to go and said we were going to her friend's party to discuss football.

Published: 19/06/2004